About Egypt
Quick Facts
- Population: 81.7 million
- Capital: Cairo (pop. 18.3 million )
- Area:: 1,002,000 square kilometers (386,874 square miles)
- Languages: Arabic (official), English, French
- Religions: Sunni Muslim (94%), Coptic Christian (6%)
- Currency: Egyptian pound
- Life Expectancy: 72
- Literacy Percent: 72
- Coat of arms: The Egyptian coat of arms shows a golden eagle looking toward the left, the symbol of which dates from the time of Saladin. On the pedestal on which the eagle stands appears in Arabic the national name, Jumhuriyat Misr al-Arabiya ("Arab Republic of Egypt").
- National Anthem: ‘Bilady, bilady, bilady' or ‘My homeland, my homeland, my homeland' , has been the national anthem of Egypt since 1979.
- National Sport: Football also known as Soccer is the national sport of Egypt. The two Egyptian Soccer clubs, El Ahly and El Zamalek are the most popular.
- National Flower: The Egyptian Lotus is the national flower of Egypt. It's also referred to as the water-lily, an aquatic flower.
A Little More
Egypt is a country in northern Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge to western Asia. Egypt borders the Mediterranean Sea to the north, the Gaza Strip and Israel to the northeast, the Red Sea to the east, Sudan to the south and Libya to the west.
Egypt is one of the most populous countries in Africa and the Middle East. The great majority of its population live near the Nile River, in an area of about 40,000 square kilometers (15,000 sq mi), where the only arable agricultural land is found. The large areas of the Sahara Desert are sparsely inhabited. About half of Egypt's residents live in urban areas, with the majority spread across the densely-populated centers of greater Cairo, Alexandria and other major cities in the Nile Delta.
Egypt is famous for its ancient civilization and some of the world's most famous monuments, including the Giza pyramid complex and its Great Sphinx. The southern city of Luxor contains numerous ancient artifacts, such as the Karnak Temple and the Valley of the Kings. Egypt is widely regarded as an important political and cultural nation of the Middle East.
Why I Love Egypt
I LOVE Egypt. Specifically Ancient Egypt, but there are parts of "general" Egypt that I love just as much. There is so much culture and history behind the country. I got into a huge Egypt phase after I read the Princess Diaries book of Cleopatra VII: I bought Egypt magazines, books, and learned how to write in hieroglyphics, etc. I even went under the alias Isis for a while (I still get spam emails calling me that once in a while :P). I know the locations of all the really cool landmarks so when I get rich and visit there (I will, dangit!) I know where to go.